Engineer / Principal Engineer - Material Process

Company: Northrop Grumman
Location: Palmdale
Posted on: April 1, 2026

Job Description:

RELOCATION ASSISTANCE: No relocation assistance available CLEARANCE REQUIRED FOR START: Yes CLEARANCE TYPE: Secret TRAVEL: Yes, 10% of the Time Description At Northrop Grumman, our employees have incredible opportunities to work on revolutionary systems that impact people's lives around the world today, and for generations to come. Our pioneering and inventive spirit has enabled us to be at the forefront of many technological advancements in our nation's history - from the first flight across the Atlantic Ocean, to stealth bombers, to landing on the moon. We look for people who have bold new ideas, courage and a pioneering spirit to join forces to invent the future, and have fun along the way. Our culture thrives on intellectual curiosity, cognitive diversity and bringing your whole self to work — and we have an insatiable drive to do what others think is impossible. Our employees are not only part of history, they're making history. Northrop Grumman Aeronautics Systems has an opening for a 4/10-2nd shift (Mon-Thurs) Materials and Process Engineer to join our team of qualified, diverse individuals. This position will be located in Palmdale, CA. The selected candidate will be part of an M&P team responsible for daily shop floor support. This support includes but is not limited to answering shop floor assist calls in a timely manner. The candidate will be expected to spend a majority of their day working hands on with the technicians on the shop floor. Working in confined spaces and from elevated platforms is routine. Lifting objects, kneeling, climbing ladders, and crawling thru confined spaces is typical. Reading, interpreting and authoring specification changes along with authoring Powerpoint presentations and Excel data tabulation will be routine. Selected candidate will assist and guide technicians in the setup and processes required to successfully complete a task. Writing test plans and collaborating with test Labs (both internal and external) along with expedited test data turnaround times are expected. Researching, and developing materials and their related application processes for use in engineering design of and/or application in structures, systems and subsystems is expected. The candidate will apply principles of chemistry, physics, and material science to investigate material issues and provide solutions. The candidate will work in a team environment with other engineering organizations to perform detailed technical reviews of drawings, specifications and manufacturing plans. This role can be filled at either a level 2 (Engineer) or level 3 (Principal Engineer) Basic Qualifications: Engineer: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Material Science or other STEM degrees along with 2 years of engineering experience; or MS in STEM along with 0 years of engineering experience. Principal Engineer: Bachelor's degree in Engineering, Chemistry, Material Science or other STEM degrees along with 5 years of engineering experience; or MS in STEM along with 3 years of engineering experience. Must have an active DoD Secret or higher clearance (with a background investigation completed within the last 6 years or currently enrolled into Continuous Evaluation) Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Special Access Program (SAP) clearance prior to the commencement of employment Preferred Qualifications: Experience with working on military or commercial aircraft, parts and assemblies. Experience preparing and presenting oral and written reports. Familiarity with ASTM test procedures. Experience with lab testing: Thermal, Optical, Rheology & Mechanical: DSC, FTIR, TGA, Photomicrography, Rheometer & Load frame operation. Familiar with composite pre-pregs, honeycombs, sealants, coatings and adhesive materials is a plus. Familiar with fabrication, assembly, and repair processes for aircraft composite structures, familiar with metallic materials and processes. Demonstrated extensive interpersonal communication, shop floor support & interacting with people. Demonstrated experience with soft skills & communication. Clear understanding of Chain of Command and the ability to follow direction within an organizational structure. FAA Airframe & Powerplant License. Mechanical related hobbies or familiarities. (Pilot, mechanic, 3-d printing, sewing, stain glass, racing/offroad motorsports, etcetera) Primary Level Salary Range: $83,400.00 - $125,200.00 Secondary Level Salary Range: $103,600.00 - $155,400.00 The above salary range represents a general guideline; however, Northrop Grumman considers a number of factors when determining base salary offers such as the scope and responsibilities of the position and the candidate's experience, education, skills and current market conditions. Depending on the position, employees may be eligible for overtime, shift differential, and a discretionary bonus in addition to base pay. Annual bonuses are designed to reward individual contributions as well as allow employees to share in company results. Employees in Vice President or Director positions may be eligible for Long Term Incentives. In addition, Northrop Grumman provides a variety of benefits including health insurance coverage, life and disability insurance, savings plan, Company paid holidays and paid time off (PTO) for vacation and/or personal business. The application period for the job is estimated to be 20 days from the job posting date. However, this timeline may be shortened or extended depending on business needs and the availability of qualified candidates. Northrop Grumman is an Equal Opportunity Employer, making decisions without regard to race, color, religion, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, marital status, national origin, age, veteran status, disability, or any other protected class. For our complete EEO and pay transparency statement, please visit http://www.northropgrumman.com/EEO. U.S. Citizenship is required for all positions with a government clearance and certain other restricted positions.

Keywords: Northrop Grumman, Aliso Viejo , Engineer / Principal Engineer - Material Process, Engineering , Palmdale, California